How to Make a Army / Milatary Camouflage Cake

 I recently made a camouflage cake for a friend and I was surprised how easy it was to
make! I decided to make a quick and easy guide to follow!!

Tools Required

1. At least 3 piping bags filled with different colored CRUSTING buttercream

FYI: Crusting buttercream is frosting that will dry to the touch.

 2. High density foam roller and offset spatula

Step One: Crumb Coat Cake 

 Step Two: Make abstract patterns on cake

Make sure the same color of buttercream is never touching

Once complete let buttercream dry for five minutes.Don't worry if some of the white crumb coat shows from underneath. It won't when you're finished.

Step Three: Roll cake gently with foam roller until smooth

Do not stay on one area of the frosting too long. Over rolling the cake in one area will result
in the oils from the cake rising out of the frosting, making the foam roller wet. It make also
result in bleeding of one color into another. 

Step Four: Finish with the border of your choice

 

 

Watch my YouTube video for more instructions

Just A Thought

Easy Holiday Cake Idea

Whenever I feel like baking something quick and easy, I always make cookie cakes!! It's a great addition to any party especially during the holiday season.

 

Ingredients

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Whipped Vanilla Frosting

White Chocolate Chips

 

Instructions

Step One: Preheat oven to 325 degrees, Press 2 cups of dough into 10 inch pan, Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

Step Two: Melt white chocolate chips on lowest possible heat, dip knife into white chocolate and drizzle over cookie cake. 

Step Three: Fill zip lock bag with vanilla frosting, twist bag, cut the tip of the bag.

Step Four: Hold bag at a 45 degree angle pipe a ribbon border around cake (u pattern)   

Optional: Make poinsettia by making two intersecting cross patterns, decorate center with sprinkles luster pearls, or shimmering sugar...Enjoy!!

 

 

Losing the Baby Weight!!!

   My son is almost 8 weeks old and I'm already thinking about getting this "baby" weight off. The plan was to take it easy for one month and then start working out. Lets just say, that didn't happen...lol. But even though I am losing weight because I'm breastfeeding, I don't feel like it's fast enough. It seems like every time I go on the Internet or turn on the TV, I see some movie star that has already dropped their baby weight five minutes after giving birth!! And I have to admit, even though I know its not realistic, it still delivers a blow to my pride.
   Why are so many women insecure about how they look especially after having a baby? You would think that after giving birth most women would ease up on the self hatred just a little bit and give their bodies time to heal. But no not us, especially not me. As I walk down the grocery store aisle I see so many diet aid products that further remind me that I'm not good enough.

And before you check out, you have to take the walk of shame past the magazines with all the perfectly "airbrushed" women!
   Secondly, when will this end? Do we change society or do we continue to allow society to change us? The only way women can raise proud and confident daughters is by first becoming proud and confident themselves. We can't effect a positive change in society with a negative perspective. We first must focus on the good, take pride in who we are and how we look.  Just a thought.....

Sharron's Take - Youtube Channel

I decided to start to vlog (video blogging) as well.

Check out my Youtube Channel sharronstake!

Please subscribe and comment....Thanks :)

 

Just A Thought

Gentlemen's Corner ~ What Men Think

Its been said, "Man are from mars and women are from Venus." This statement could not be more true for me and my husband. After six years of marriage, I have learned a lot about men and their seemingly strange quirks. But the biggest thing that baffles me isn't what men do, its how they think. So I decided to interview my husband, brother in-laws, and friend to get into the mind of a man. FYI: I really think this would be the perfect activity for a dinner party. Enjoy!!

Sweet Potatoe Cake Recipe!!

I decided to make a sweet potatoe cake for Thanksgiving this year. It turned out great so I decided to post the recipe...Enjoy!!

 

 

Ingredients

1 box of vanilla cake mix

1 1/2 cup of sweet potatoes

1/3 cup of brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

 

Directions

Mash sweet potatoes leaving some small chunks, set to the side

Make cake batter as directed on box

Add cinnamon and brown sugar, then mix

Fold in sweet potatoes

Pour batter in a greased cake pan of your choice. I used a 10" bunt pan.

Bake until done. It usually takes 30 to 35 minutes.

Let cake cool completely then frost cake with cream cheese frosting.

 

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup cream cheese (4oz)

1/2 cup butter

4 cups of powdered sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Mix cream cheese and butter together (room temperature)

Add vanilla extract

Add powdered sugar 

 

Just A Thought

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!

The Husband Tag

 

I decided to join in on the fun and film the Husband Tag!

I had my husband answer a series of questions regarding me and our relationship. It's interesting to see things from his point of view. It's also a really neat way to go down memory lane. Enjoy :)    

 

 

 

The Husband Tag Questions

1) Where did we first meet?

2) Where was our first date? 

3) What was your first impression of me?

4) When did you meet my family?

5) Name a weird habit of each other?

6) How long have we been together?

7) Do we have any traditions? 

8) An animal that resembles one another? 

9) What was our first road trip?

10) First thing you noticed about me?

11) What pisses him off? 

12) What is your favorite feature about each other? 

13) Name three things I am good & not good at? 

14) What do we argue about the most? 

15) Do I have PMS? 

16) Who wears the pants in the relationship? 

17) Do I have any weird obsessions? 

18) What nicknames for each other? 

19) What is my favorite restaurant? 

20) If I am watching TV, what am I watching? 

21) What is one food I do not like? 

22) What drink do I order when we go out to eat? 

23) What size of shoe do I wear? 

24) What is my favorite kind of sandwich? 

25) What is one talent I have? 

26) What would I eat everyday if I could? 

27) What is my favorite cereal? 

28) What is my favorite kind of music? 

29) Name my favorite sports team? 

30) What is my eye color? 

31) Who is my best friend? 

32) Something you do that I wish you didn’t do? 

33) Where am I from? 

34) What kind of cake would you bake me on my birthday? 

35) Do I play any sports? 

36) What can I spend hours doing?

 

 

November Love

I absolutely love November!!! Why? It holds my favorite holiday....Thanksgiving!!

This is the time of year my family goes all out. We usually have two different types of turkeys, a room filled with sides, another room filled with desserts, with everyone sharing in the cooking and cleaning duties. My mother started a tradition years before she passed . After dinner, everyone would express what they were thankful for. As my family grows, I find myself wanting to not only continue this tradition with my children, but also start a tradition of my own. So I asked myself, "How can I instill a heart of gratitude in my children?"
I though of the perfect, age appropriate project. I bought a pumpkin and decided we would decorate it as a family, covering it with gratitude. I know, it sounds weird so let me explain. Every day in November, I had everyone in my family (we improvised with Jase) write something on the pumpkin they were thankful for. Not only do you verbally express your gratitude, its a visual reminder as well. By the end of the month the pumpkin should be completely covered :)

Just A Thought

A Matter of Perception

     I woke up today feeling defeated. I felt lost, drained and just plain tired. I forgot how exhausting it is to care for a newborn. Between the feedings, diaper changes, and periodic checks to see if they're still breathing, I find myself going a little crazy. In one hand, I'm completely in love with everything about my son but on another hand, I find myself wishing he didn't need me so much.
     As I sit here at noon in my pajamas in full reflection, I'm reminded of the age old adage, "A mothers work is never done." And then it hits me. That's it...that's what's wrong!! I'm viewing my service to my child as work. As true as that statement is, its terribly one sided. Yes, motherhood is hard and yes it requires a great deal of work at times. But if my only perception is work, then that thought process will assuredly lead to frustration. With every good job, there is a defined work schedule, duties, and salary. But with motherhood, the schedule is always, the duties are extensive, and there is no salary.
     The adage, "A mothers love is never ending" is more applicable to my service for my child(ren). It is love, and only love, that will allow me to go over and above the call of duty, work without rest or repayment.  Love will allow me to view my duties as acts of love, even when my service leaves me in my pajamas at noon!

Just A Thought

Maternity Fashion

When I found out I was pregnant for the second time, I decided I did not want to look anything like I did the first time I was pregnant. I hated the maternity clothing I wore with my first son. I felt frumpy and unattractive every time I got dressed. I also decided that I did not want to spend money on a wardrobe that I was only going to use for nine months. I was able to go my entire pregnancy wearing my normal wardrobe, only buying two pairs of maternity shorts. The following is a video of some of the outfits I wore during my pregnancy. Enjoy!!

 

 

FYI: Jersey skirts, Maxi and Empire-waisted dresses are great because they stretch as you grow!!

What did the fox say prank

Just a Thought

Meal Train

     After the birth of my second son, some of the women from my church wanted to organize meals for me and my family until I recovered. One of the ladies sent me an email to sign up for a website called "meal Train." After signing up and exploring the website, I completely fell in love with meal train. This website is the perfect tool to help individuals simplify the organization of giving and receiving meals for friends or family after a birth, surgery, or illness.

     The following is a list of perks the website provides that makes scheduling easier:

• Interactive, online meal calendar
• Customized calendar dates, times and meal preferences
• Invitations via email, and Facebook
• Reminder emails prior to the scheduled meal delivery

     I really enjoyed the online meal calendar. I was able to log on each night and find out who was providing dinner and what they were providing, with no surprises. Instead of meals, some of the members also opted to provide groceries to help keep our refrigerator and pantry stocked. Hopefully this information is helpful to you, your family or your friends :)

 

 

 

 

 

Hola Dear Deer

     I grew up watching my parents start successful businesses. I also watched my mother make every craft and baked good under the sun. She frequently enlisted our services to help sell her products. So it was only natural for me to not only start my own business selling cakes but to also support local businesses, especially those owned by women.

 

    The first business I would like to spotlight is Hola Dear Deer. Hola Dear Deer is based in Houston, TX and is owned by two sisters, Erika Del Valle and Jessica Garcia. As the daughters of a talented tailor, the girls' childhood was surrounded by fabric and the sounds of sewing machines. After many years of admiring handmade items, they decided to keep the family tradition alive by starting their own business. Some of their creative designs include t-shirts, mini-wallets, superhero capes, hand bags, bowties, pouches and yarn spheres. Their use of up cycled and vintage materials result in unique eco-friendly products.

 James & Jase in Hola's bowties

 

Me & my sisters in Hola's "sisters Before misters" tank tops

 

Check out Hola Dear Deer at the next Pop Shop Houston!!

Contact Information
Website: www.holadeardeer.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/holadeardeer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HolaDD

Just a Thought

Fall Fashion: Scarves!!

Fall is my favorite season of the year. I absolutely love the weather.
As the leaves fall from the trees and the air begins to chill, I can't help but get excited about fall clothing: boots, coats, scarves! Have you ever loved a particular fashion look but didn't know exactly how to pull it off? Or maybe you just want to change things up. I feel the same way about scarves. I have always loved the look, but never know quite how to incorporate them into my outfit. When I do wear scarves I tend to wear them the same way, which gets boring quick.  I came across this YouTube video / tutorial that I wanted to share that shows 25 ways to wear a scarf...enjoy!!

 

 

Super Soft Faux Pashmina Scarf (OLIVE)

Awesome Apps

1. Retail Me Not
This is a shopper's dream come true -- essentially the world's largest digital coupon marketplace. The app helps you to find hundreds of thousands of digital coupons for just about every major retailer you can think of. If you're going to shop, you might as well get a discount!

2. Health Mate
This app is awesome at helping you keep track of your activity. Wearing a device called a Pulse, the app tracks all your movement and breaks it down for you in terms of distance covered, calories burned -- and even analyzes your sleep patterns.

3. Grocery IQ
Take this app to the supermarket and scan all the bar codes of items you typically buy. Then, create a shopping list at home using that info -- and download coupons for great savings! No Sunday clipping required. This app saves you time by sorting items by isle, allowing easy navigation through the store.

4. Square Register 
This app works with a small square credit card reader. Perfect for small businesses or going out with large groups. We’ve all gone out to dinner with friends and found ourselves asking the waiter to split the bill amongst multiple cards. With Square, one person can pay and everyone else can pay that person using the credit card swiper. No more worries about friends or family paying you back later because they don't have cash.

5. Google Translate
Instantly translate between over 50 languages. Listen to spoken translations in over 30 languages. Type or speak words and phrases to get translations. Dictionaries with authoritative translations in over 30 languages. Keep track of translations you need for later on. This app allows you to have a natural conversation with individuals that speak a foreign language.

6. Worlds Lens
This app is perfect for travelers who don’t speak the local language. Point this app at a sign in a foreign language, and it instantly translates it for you.

7. Aspire News

Aspire News is a free app which contains summaries of top stories in world, sports, and entertainment news, from the When Georgia Smiled: Robin McGraw Foundation. Additionally, if someone you know is in an abusive relationship—or if that someone is you—the Help Section of the application contains complete resources for victims of domestic violence, as well as a way to get help when you need it. The app contains an emergency button that will send a text message with a pre-determined message of your choosing to trusted contacts alerting them if you're in danger.

 

The Truth About Labor Pains

     It has been said, "No two pregnancies are the same." The same can be said about labor. The births of my two sons were completely different. For the most part, I knew I was going into labor with my oldest James. The entire process was slow and predictable. Not so much with Jase. I realized my false labor pains (Braxton Hicks) were real once the contractions were 2 minutes apart for 45 seconds each. Consequently, what should have been a casual 20 minute drive to the hospital became a 10 minute high speed race. I was dilated 4 centimeters when I arrived and quickly jumped to 7 centimeters 30 minutes later.

     The contractions were excruciating. It was as if each one was competing with the previous one for personal best. I felt like I was dying!!! It was at this moment that I began to say my goodbyes to my husband. The little baby inside of me was trying to rip its way out and there was no way I was going to survive it or I was going to die of a heart attack. My only chance was an epidural which seemed unlikely because I was dilating too fast. The nurse assured me the anesthesiologist was coming, but he wasn't moving fast enough for me. After one of the most intense contractions, I begged my husband to find the doctor. Just as my husband was getting up, the anesthesiologist strolled into the room.

     As I reflect on both of my son's births, experience has taught me that two seemingly similar situations can yield two completely different outcomes. This truth goes beyond childbirth but applies to whatever life may hand you. That being said, all we can do is face every situation with an open mind and be prepared to expect the unexpected.

Welcome Baby Jase Ashton!!

I would have really liked to give an update on the costume party this last weekend but nature had other plans for me. I went into labor shortly after my last post and give birth to a baby boy Friday at 9:36 am!! He is so amazing and John and I couldn't be happier.

James is enjoying his little brother and he's already so helpful. We're beyond blessed for this little bundle of joy!!

Creative Pregnancy Costumes

I'm going to a costume birthday party this Saturday and I've been looking for a costume that will flatter my "bump." I just wanted to share some of the awesome homemade costumes that I found.
These costumes are perfect for anyone on a budget!!

 

Photos courtesy of coolest-homemade=costumes.com

http://www.coolest-homemade-costumes.com/

Pregnancy Insomnia

     There's a lot of information and discussion on heartburn, fatigue, diet, exercise, and rest while pregnant but not a lot of talk about pregnancy insomnia. I started to experience insomnia a month into my third trimester. It was horrible. I experienced difficulty falling asleep and when I did, I couldn't sleep longer than two hours. Once awaken, it would take at least three hours to fall back asleep.

     I spoke to my OB/GYN about this problem and her only suggestion was to try my best to suffer through it. Believe me, those were not the words I wanted to hear. I wanted something that was going to knock me out! But most medications that would normally be appropriate for this condition are unsafe for pregnant women. The closest sleep aid medication suggested during pregnancy is Benadryl. But even Benadryl should be used with caution. 

     I didn't experience this with my first pregnancy. In fact, I was tired all of the time. I was seriously in love with my bed. But every pregnancy is different. I wanted to share some helpful information about pregnancy insomnia for my fellow sufferers.


     General Information:
     What is pregnancy insomnia? Inability to fall or stay asleep,
     especially in the third trimester of pregnancy.

      What causes pregnancy insomnia? A complicated combination
     of hormones and a number of unhelpful conditions, such as frequent
     urination, persistent heartburn, leg cramps, and pre-birth anxiety
     can all cause difficulty sleeping during pregnancy.

     What are some ways to cope with insomnia? Warm milk or tea,
     relaxing bath, peaceful music, or reading a book.


     To be honest, none of these suggestions worked for me. I decided to make the best of a bad situation.  Instead of staring into the darkness, I decided to be as productive as possible when awake. I made sure I had activities and projects on hand so I had something to do to keep me busy. Go to "What to Expect" for more information. www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/symptoms-and-solutions/insomnia.aspx

Just a Thought

James' Take on his Baby Brother

This one never fails to amaze me. The things he says and the ideas he comes up with...lol. Had to share...enjoy!  

 

 

Newman's Castle

I've been trying to spend more time with my son before his little brother arrives. I recently went with him and some other family members to Newman's Castle. It's located just outside of town in the Bellville, Texas countryside. It truly is a one of a kind custom creation. http://newmanscastle.com/